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Say it, before you write it.

  1. Before you write anything, try saying what you want to write to someone else.
  2. Short Words
  3. Short Sentences
  4. Be Personal
  5. Frank Sinatra letter provides an example of someone writing the way they speak.
  6. Frank Sinatra Letter
  7. Notice that Frank's writing is easy to read and understand. Most people already speak in complete sentences. It is informal. Informal writing is easier to read and understand.

Don't confuse the reader.

  1. Know your reader.
  2. Look at the writing from their point of view.
  3. No ranting, blathering, or confessing.
  4. Write something meaningful
  5. Be organized

Be consistent


  1. Apply the rules you know consistently.
  2. If you capitalize something always capitalize it.
  3. Inconsistencies are distracting to the reader.
  4. Use a dictionary.

What's the point?

When writing something you should be able to state in a single sentence what your paper/essay/letter is about. If you can't, then stop writing until you can.

  1. Stick to the point.
  2. No veering off.
  3. Get rid of unnecessary monologuing.
  4. Get rid of vague words: stuff, things, people.
  5. What do you want the reader to get out of your writing.

Be specific, Provide details

  1. Whatever topic you think you know, you don't.
  2. Details and specifics prove that you know it.
  3. Citing sources means that you are being accountable to your reader.
  4. No sources. No credibility.
  5. Because I said so isn't credible.
  6. MLA, APA, and Turabian are citation methods.
  7. Newspapers: According to Dr Smartperson at the University of Smartpeople...

Themes

Black - White - League - Sky - Beige - Simple
Serif - Night - Moon - Solarized - LE (default)